"Let Your Light Shine"

It was about 90 degrees F. I spent the whole day in the house. After dinner I said, "I just need to get outside. I need to take a walk."

 

"Here, take the dog," my daughter said.

 

"No, I need to walk at my own pace." I drank a plenty of water so I would be well-hydrated.

 

For the past year, ever since we got Milo, I've been taking him for walks most every day. I've been going the distance - sometimes three or four miles a day - but at a beagle's speed. He meanders, he stops to sniff. Sometimes he'll go much faster. That's usually on the way home. I've missed going at a steady brisk pace. I've missed running.

 

So yesterday I ventured out without Milo. I took the trail and crossed the bridge to our town's rec path. Even in the heat I was truly enjoying the walk.

 

Then a man passed me who was running. I smiled and waved at him.  "He's running!" I thought. "In this heat!" I walked on a little farther, then I said to myself, "I can do this!" So I picked up the speed and began running. It felt so good.

 

For some reason, I've always liked running in the heat. I jogged at an easy pace and, with my smartwatch, I monitored my heart rate so it would not get too high. Then I saw the man I had seen earlier coming toward me in the opposite direction. He was still running. 

 

"You inspired me," I said to him. He smiled and kept running. And I kept running.

 

I jogged almost one mile in the heat. "Yes, I'm doing this!" I thanked God, and I felt exhilarated. It was all because a stranger inspired me.

 

I thought of the Scripture passage: "...let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:16. I thought of the people in church I've come to know and the charitable works they do. I thought about the Christians I've known over the years who follow the Lord and do mighty deeds. I am inspired by them, and and I want to join with them in doing good for others and giving witness to the goodness of the Lord. They let their light shine, and God is glorified.

 

Milo teaches me to slow down and appreciate the beauty of nature around me. This is a gift. To run or to walk at my own pace (to be able to walk at all!) is also a gift. It does not have to be one or the other. It can be both.

"Okay, Milo. I'm getting the leash. Let's go for a walk." (Maybe later I'll go for that run.)

Don't Cry Over Spilled Milk

It was one of those days. Everything seemed to be going wrong.

The shelf on the refrigerator broke. I needed to put the milk and other containers on other shelves, sideways. Later when I opened the refrigerator - yes - the milk had leaked.

While cleaning up the mess caused by spilled milk, I knocked over a container of sunflower seeds. Sunflower seeds went flying all over. Another mess.

While I was out driving, I missed the street where I wanted to turn. Looking for a way to get back on the right road, I managed to hit a HUGE pothole! I thought I damaged the car. I just wanted to get back home.

Home again, I checked email and Meta facebook. Lo and behold, I see my cable bill was posted on messages to several of my friends! along with a video of a broadcast I never watch! I had been hacked. 

I was feeling quite defeated. Then I felt discouraged about feeling defeated. 

I thought about the little setbacks I had during the day. They are truly minor compared to the major problems happening in our world. There are wars, there is poverty, there are people imprisoned unjustly and inhumanely. There are people in deep pain and feeling hopeless. "Spilled milk" is nothing compared to all of that.

I wanted to pray about my problems and how I was feeling, to bring my own situation to the Lord. But how can I pray about these minor inconveniences? So added to this, I started to feel selfish.

I was reminded about little children who may break a favorite toy, scrape a knee, lose a balloon - nothing major. And parents who may be struggling with all of their grown-up problems take the time and attention to comfort their children. The relationship and the love is all important.

In the same way, my heavenly Father cares about the brokenness of our world throughout all generations, and He still cares about every single detail of my life, even those that seem so very insignificant. He wants to bring healing to our world. He wants to bring healing to my life. It's about love and our relationship with Him.

So I pray about the "small things" and I pray about the "big things."

And I know "in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28. All things - even spilled milk.

 Photo by Daniel Sinoca on Unsplash